Singer Michelle Williams Joins The Cast Of ‘Fela!’

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Michelle Williams is now a member of the cast of the hit Broadway and Tony Award winning musical, “Fela!”

The R&B superstar visited the KCAL9 studios Tuesday to talk about the play as well as her new album.

A triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, “Fela!” tells the true story of music that with incendiary lyrics that openly attack the corrupt and oppressive military dictatorships that rule Nigeria and much of Africa. The musical, produced by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and Stephen and Ruth Hendel, is filled with the exuberant music of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

“Fela!” received a total of 11 Tony Award nominations in 2010. The music and dancing of “Fela!” prompted Ben Brantley of The New York Times to say, “There should be dancing in the streets” when it opened on Broadway in 2009, and Peter Marks of The Washington Post said it is an “. . . electroshock for the soul.” Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times said last December of the Ahmanson presentation, “. . .be prepared to get out of your seat and shake your derriere.”

“Fela!” will be at the Ahmanson Theatre from April 26 through May 5. Tickets are now on sale for the limited engagement, call (213) 972-4400 or click here.